Bit.



- PATENTED FEB. 17, 1903. F. P. HALL, W. E. 0LDS.& M.-A. BUCK I BIT.

APPLICATION FILED mm.- 16, 1901.

4 MODEL.

Wiigzs'sczs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. HALL, WARREN E. OLDS, AND MADISON A. BUCK, or

.PLEASANTON, KANSAS.

BIT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 720,689, dated February17, 1903.

Application filed March 16. 1901. Serial No. 51.561. (ModeL) To allwhomt't may concern..-

- Be it known that we, FRANK P. HALL,WAR- REN E. OLDS, and MADISON A.BUCK, citizens of the United States, residingat Pleasanton, in thecounty of Linn and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Bitfor Horses and Mules, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bridle-bits.

The object of the invention is to provide a bit which by a slightadjustment of certain of its parts may be converted from a straight bitto a curb-bit.

A further object is to provide a bit having the above characteristicswhich shall be simple of construction, thoroughly efficient and durablein use, and ready of manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a bridle-bit, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts, thereis illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the the bit applied in operative position thereto,

the parts of the bit being adj ustedfor curb purposes. Fig. 2 is a Viewin front elevation of the bit with certain of the parts removed. Fig. 3is a detached detail view of one of the curb-plates. Fig. 4. is asimilar view of one of the cheek-strap plates. Fig. 5 is a similar Viewof one of the gag-plates. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, showingthe parts of the bit adjusted for straight-bit purposes. Fig. 7 is avertical sectional view taken through the cheek-plate, curb-plate,gag-plate, and bit.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bit-bar, the same beingprovided at its center with a curb 2.

. is disposed at an angle of about thirty degrees thereto,thisarrangement, as will presently appear, operating to cause-the curbto lie easily in the horses mouth when the bit is used as a straightbit. 7 The plate comprises a head 4: and anarm 5 integral there with andprovided near itsterminal with an orifice 6 to be engaged by one end ofa chin or gag strap 7, as clearlyshown in Fig. 1, this strapoperatingnormally to hold the curb in the position above referred to.The outer face of the head is formed with a semicircular boss 8,concentric with the bit-bar, and presents shoulders 9 to be engaged by alocking-latch 10, mounted in a longitudinal recess 11 in the shank of acurb-plate 12. This latch is adapted for free sliding movement in therecess 11 and is held in its adjusted position with relation to theshoulders 9 of the gag-plate by a yoke-spring 13, the terminals of whichfit in slots or recesses 14: in the latch,

as shown "by dotted lines in Fig. 6, the crest of the spring beinghoused in the upper end of the recess 11 and held there by projectionsor teats 15, carried by a stud 16, disposed within the recess. The latchis provided with 2. lug or projection'l7, constituting a finger.- holdby which it may be operated.

"The curb-plate 12, to which reference has been made, is provided at oneend of its shank with a rein-ring 18'and at its opposite end with anorifice 19 to fit over a reduced pintle 20 near the terminal of thebit-bar and is free to move thereon, the terminal of the bitbar beingfurther reduced to present a pintle 21, upon which is mounted thecheek-strap plate 4, the same being held from disengagement therefrom bya washer 22, held on the pintle 21 by having the latter upset ormushroomed, as shown at 23 in Fig. 7. The cheekstrap plate is free tomove on the pintle 21 and is provided at its free end with a loop 24:,to be engaged by the check-strap 25. When the latch isin the positionshown in Fig. 1, it

engages with one of the shoulders 9 of the boss 8, and upon draft beingapplied to the curb-plate the bit will be rocked, thus to force the curb2 against the roof of the animals mouth in the usual manner. When thelatch is in the position shown in Fig. 6, the curb-plate is free torotate on the pintle 20 without imparting any rocking movement whateverto the bit, and under these conditions the device operates as a straightbit.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the deviceof this invention is exceedingly simple of construction it will bethoroughly efficient in use for the purpose designed and that theadjustment to convert the bit from a straight to a curb, or vice versa,may be accomplished in a ready and easy manner.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bit provided with a curb, and cheek-strapplates pivotally associated with the terminals of the bit, of platesrigid with the bit and provided with stops or abutments, andrein-ring-carrying arms swiveled to the bit-bar and carrying adjustablemeans to coact with the stops or abutments.

2. The combination wit-l1 a bit provided with a curb, of gag-platesrigid therewith and provided adjacent to the bit with stops or abutmentsdisposed obliquely to the length of the plates and at their freeterminals with chinstrap receiving orifices, rein-ringcarrying armsnormally loose upon the bit, and carrying means to interlock with thestops or abutments to convert the bit from a straight bit to a curbedbit, and cheek-strap plates swiveled to the terminals of the bit.

3. The combination with abit provided with a curb, of gag-plates rigidtherewith and disposed at an oblique angle to the curb and providedadjacent to the bit with stops or'abutments and at their free terminalswith chinstrap-receiving orifices, rein-ring-carrying arms normallyloose upon the bit and provided with longitudinal recesses,spring-controlled latches mounted in the recesses and adapted tointerlock with the stops or abutments to convert the bit from a straightbit to a curbed bit, and cheek-strap plates swiveled to the terminalsof'the bit.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK I. HALL. WARREN E. ()LDS. MADISON A. BULK.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM J. 'lHInmvuLL, WM. T. BROWN.

